Earlier this year, Phillip Milligan, a 20-year veteran of Black, Mann & Graham, retired after an impressive 50-year career in the banking, mortgage, and legal professions. Phillip joined the BMG team in 2004, recruited by Linda Rollins, who had previously worked with him at Barrett, Burke, and Wilson where she had admired his work ethic and can-do spirit. When he came in for an interview, Tom Black asked if he could start the next day, and Phillip enthusiastically agreed—thus began his remarkable 20-year journey with our firm.

Phillip has often shared how the supportive, collaborative atmosphere and the people at BMG made his time with us a true pleasure. Even in retirement, he enjoys staying connected with former colleagues and keeping up with their families. Some of his favorite memories include visits from Tom Black’s children, Erin and Ryan, and seeing Jesus Chavez’s kids with their coloring books in the breakroom.

According to Phillip, the firm’s mission statement—Prompt, Personable, and Precise—perfectly captures the spirit of BMG, and it’s a mantra he embodied in his daily interactions with clients and team members.

In retirement, you can find Phillip staying active at the gym—a goal he set for this new chapter of his life—or traveling to visit family and friends from California to his home state of Arkansas. In just over a year, he’ll travel to Australia for the trip of a lifetime – an Australian cruise.

Cheers to you, Phillip, for your dedication and hard work over the years. Enjoy every moment of your retirement!